Detachable lamp guard



Oct. 7, 1941. R, POPP 2,25 ,032

DETACHABLE LAMP GUARD Filed May 6, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet l Oct. 7, 1941.

R. POPP I 2,258,032

DETACHABLE LAMP GUARD FiledvMay 6, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 I, Jain Si!/III/ 4% 1 a I''"' r/ 1/ 11 mil). v mm m Patented Oct. 7, 1941 UNITEDSTATES PATENT OFFICE DETACHABLE LAMP GUARD Rudolf Popp, Valparaiso,Ind., assignor to McGill Manufacturing corporation of Indiana 7Application May 6, 1938, Serial No. 206,318

8 Claims.

This invention relates to wire cages or guards for portable lamps, andmore particularly to that type of cage which is partly separable at theend through'which the lamp is inserted, the separable parts being drawntogether to clamp the cage to the lamp holder.

Wire cage guards have long been used for lamps. Although they aresometmes used with stationary lamps, their most common use is withportable hand-lamps in which along flexible cord extends to a handle, inone end of which there is provided a socket into which the lamp bulbscrews. When such portable lamps are not guarded by a wire cage they arefrequently broken due to being dropped or struck by tools. It is ofcourse desirable that the wire cage be secured to the handle quitefirmly in order that it will protect the lamp bulb adequately. In thepast the common practice has been to provide some form of split ring atthe end of the cage engaging the handle, with one or more screws fordrawing the split portions of the ring together to clamp the cage firmlyto the handle. Usually the split ring has been in two separable parts,each part secured to one-half of the cage with the two halves securedtogether at the top in a pivot-like connection and adapted to springapart enough to permit insertion of the handle and lamp bulb into thecage. This has necessitated the use of two screws, however, and hashence been doubly-inconvenient. Even one screw is a nuisance from thestandpoint of time required to unscrew it and screw it up again when itis necessary to replace a lamp bulb. Sometimes there is no screw-driverhandy and. the'inconvenience is then still greater. Furthermore, thescrews sometimes become lost and considerable time and energy areconsumed in finding substitutes. 7

An object of the present invention is to provide a construction in whichthe cage may be secured to and removed from the handle more readily thanheretofore, without the use of tools and without danger 6f losing thesecuring means. Stated more specifically, this object is to provide moreconvenient means for drawing the two separable parts of the cage tightlyaround the handle. Broadly speaking, this is accomplished by providing alever member pivoted to one of the separable portions and coacting withthe other separable portion to draw the two toward one another.Minuteness of adjustment is made unnecessary by virtue of using aresilient handle portion which will yield sufiiciently to compensate forminor variations in the parts. The le- Company, Valparaiso, Ind., a

vers are so constructed that the separable portions may be drawn towardone another with considerable force and effectively locked in thetightened position.

One of the features of my invention is the simplicityof constructionwith the resulting economy in manufacture. The split ring on the cage atthe mounting portion thereof may be formed simply by a wire of the samematerial as the remainder of the cageand each of the separable portionsof this ring may be formed with out-turned ends with which the clampingmeans may be associated;

The advantages and objects'of the invention will be made more apparentby the following 'de scription and by the drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of one form of cage embodying this inventionas applied to a handle.

Fig. 2 is a sectional-view taken substantially on the line 2-1 of Fig.1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary detail view showing the clamp lever of Fig. 1 inan intermediate position.

Fig. 4 is a correspondingview showing the clamp lever in a releasedposition.

Figs. 5 and 6 are corresponding views-showing a modified form ofclamping lever in closed and open positions respectively. 7 Figs. '7 and8 are corresponding views-showing still another modified form of leverin closed and open positions respectivelya Figs.9 and 10 arecorresponding views showing still another modified form of clampinglever in closed and open positions respectively.

Although this invention may take numerous forms,only a few have beenchosen for illustration. All are illustrated in conjunction with a wirecage for a portable lamp such as is illustrated in Fig. 1. The cageincludes a plurality of longitudinal'wires -Il secured at their top to aring I2 and securedat intermediate points to semicircularcircumferentially-extending wires l3 and at their ends. to similarsemicircular wires [4. Because the wires [3 and M are semicircular, i.e. are separated at diametrically opposed points, the cage isefiectively formed in two halves both connectedto the ring I2 withsuificient looseness or resiliency so that the two halves may be sprungapart to permit a handle [6 with a bulb I! screwed into a socket l8therein to be inserted into the cage. The two halves of the cage maythen be drawn together tightly around the handle It so that the cagewill be firmly secured to the handle. To prevent the cage from slidinglongitudinally with respect to the handle 16, the

handle is formed with an annular groove I9 therein, with which the endportion of the cage coacts.

One preferred form of clamping link 2| has been illustrated in Figs. 1to 4. This link is mounted on an out-turned end 22 of one of the wiresI4 and engages an out-turned end 23 of the other of the wires I4. Theend 22 is peened over to retain the link thereon. The link 2| is of agenerally spiral shape so that as it moves from the open position shownin Fig. 4 to the closed position shown in Fig. 1 it will draw the ends22 and 23 toward one another. To facili tate turning it, it is providedwith an out-turned finger portion 24 at one end and'preferably withanother out-turned finger portion 25 approximately diametricallyopposite the portion 24, that is, beyond the pivot 22 therefrom. Thesefinger portions are quite desirable inasmuch as considerable force isnecessary to draw the wires l4 toward one another as tightly as. isdesired in order to clamp the cage. quite firmly to the handle- Theinside surface of the link 2| 'is" preferably provided with notches. orserrations 21 so that the link 2| willbe locked. by' coaction betweenitseli and end 23 in any one of aplurality of positions. This willprovide enough variation to accommodate the cage to handles which mayvary somewhat in diameter and also enough variation to compensate forirregularities in the sizes of the cages. At the same time thetightening adjustment will be sufliciently minute in view of the factthat the handle. I6 is made of a resilient rubber so that the wires Hcan be pressed an appreciable'distance into the handle by the forceapplied by the link 2|. 7 It will of course be evident that a clampinglink or some other suitable clamping device should, be provided at eachside of-thecage, although one of them could be of a'constru'ction whichdoes not draw the wires toward one another but merely holds them in agiven position. In Fig. 2 a second link 2| has been shown at theopposite side of the cage from the'other link 2|, the two linksfunctioning-in the same manner. Either link maybe operated first to drawthe associated ends Hand 23' toward one another, after whichthe'other-link'maybe operated in like manner.

As previously mentioned, the links on the opposite sides of the cageneednot be the same. The link 2|," is preferred on the side which is closedlast because of'its. simplicity and because its serrations 21- willpermit it to lockat a variety of positions. This is not necessary forthe link on the side which is closed first, however, and any. of thelinks shown in Figs. to are especially suitable for that purpose,although they may oi'course be used for both links;

The link-3| of Figs. 5 audit comprises asingle piece of wire-bent toform'a pivotal eyelet 32 andan inwardly-turned end 33 which may serveinitially as a finger portion and subsequently as alock, being slightlycurved .and hooking around One of the wires As can be understood from a.consideration of Figs. 5 and 6, the link is curved in such a mannerthat it.will engage the end 23-while carrying on the clamping operation,to draw the cage portions together onto the handle. Due to theresiliency in the various parts, the handle portion may be sprungslightly when the link is in. clamping position, to hook around avertical wire in the cage.

' In Figs. 7 and 8 the link 4| is pivoted tothe wire I 4 indirectly,namely by a connecting link 42 which has a slot 43 therein in which theend 23 of the other wire l4 may be inserted. The link 4| has a camportion 44 and a handle portion 46 which slants outwardly. As seen inFig. 8, the extension link 42 is pivoted to the wire M to facilitate itsremoval from the wire end 23 and its application thereto. Although thislink assembly is a little more complicated than the other links, it hasthe advantage of extreme ease in operation since the work of drawing thewires together may be spread over nearly an entire revolution of thelink 4|.

In Figs. 9 and 10 the link 5| is shown provided with two slots. The slot52 is a pivotal slot engaging the peened end 22 of one wire I4, and theopen slot 53 is adapted to engage the wire end 23. The slot 52 extendsapproximately circularly around the inner end of slot 53. The operationof this link is as follows: In order for theopen end of slot 53 to reachthe. wire end 23 it'will ordinarily be necessary to shift the link 5|toward-the wire end 23, and in this shifting movement the wire end 22slides to the right in slot 52' as seen in Fig. 10, or rather, the link5| is slid to the left on the wire end 22 at the link slot 52. Aclockwise twisting movement is applied to the link 5| through fingerportions 54, and the shape of slot 53 thus draws the wire ends 23 and22' toward one another. When the end of the slot 53 strikes wire end 23,such wire end 23 then acts as a pivot and the link 5| slides on wire end22 so that it is finally at the end of the slot, as shown in Fig. 9. Atthisend of the slot 52 there may be a slight notch 56'to assist inretaining the link 5| in this position, should such assistance benecessary. With the link 5| in this position theslot 53'- may curveslightly toward the wire end'22 so that the tension of wires 4 will holdthe link 5| from pivoting about the wire end 22. Of course, slot 53could be concentric' with wire end 22 in this position, in which casefriction would hold link 5| in its closed positi'on, or slot 53 could beslightly notched. Whether because of such notches or because ofthe-shape of the slots, it is evident that, with the link 5| in theposition shown in Fig. 9, slot 52 curves from wire end 22 toward wireend 23 and slot 53 curves from wireend 23 toward wire end 22. In statingthat the slot curves in this manner it is of course meant primarily thatthe functional outer surfaces of the slots curve in thisdirection. Theexact curvature of the inner sides of the slots is unimportant.

From'the foregoingit is seen that a plurality of. simple constructionsare provided, each of which is adapted. to clamp the separable portionsof a wire cage type of lamp guard around the handle or. socket memberwithout the use of tools and with the minimum efiort and minimumconsumption of time. Each of the clamping devices is self-locking orislocked readily by coaction between the clamping link and another part ofthe cage.

Although I have described my invention in its preferred embodiments, itis understood'that I do not limit the invention thereby, but limit thesame only by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A wire-cage lamp guard including longitudinal wires, wiremeansextending circumferentially and secured to the longitudinal wires,said wire means being separable to permit the insertion of a holderWithin the cage, an outstanding wire portion formed on one wire of eachseparaportion in said slot toward the first portion, with said linkmeans being free of said other portion when said wire means areseparated.

2. A wire-cage lamp guard including longitu dinal wires, wire meansextending circumferentially and secured to the longitudinal wires, saidwire means being separable to permit the insertion of a holder withinthe cage, a circumferential frame member on each separable part havingan integral lug extending outwardly from said cage, and a link pivotedon one of the lugs and normally free ofthe other of said lugs to opensaid separable parts, but rotatable to coact with said other lug to drawsaid lugs toward one another to uniformly engage the cage firmly aboutthe holder, said link comprising a wire shaped at its pivoted end toinclude an eye for pivotally supporting said link on said one lug, anactuating cam portion for slidably engaging said other lug and drawingit toward the first lug in a substantially straight line movement, andan inwardly extending portion at the other end adapted to serve as afinger rest in operating the link, and as a lock means engaging anotherportion of the cage for locking the link in operated position.

3. A wire cage for securing to a holder for a portable lamp, includingin combination a pair of separable parts, with said parts connected atone end, and each having a projection extending laterally and outwardlytherefrom at the other end, means for drawing and releasably connectingsaid two parts about said holder movably mounted on the projection ofone of said parts and movable with said one part away from th other partwhen said two parts are separated, said means extending substantiallylongitudinally of said holder and having a cavity opening from one edgethereof and a cam portion at said cavity movable into sliding engagementwith said second projection when said two parts are positioned aboutsaid holder, said cam portion on movement of said connecting meansoperating on said second projection to draw said two parts together intopressed engagement about said holder, said means including a lockingportion engageable with said other part to lock the pair of parts aboutsaid holder.

4. A wire cage for securing to a holder for a portable lamp, includingin combination a pair of separable parts, with said parts connected atone end, a circumferential wire band on each of said parts at said otherend, each of said bands having an integral lug at each end thereofextending outwardly from said cage, means movably mounted on a lug ofone of said parts for drawing said two parts about said holder, saidmeans extending substantially longitudinally of said holder and having acavity opening from one edge thereof and a cam portion at said cavitymovable into slidable engagement with a lug on said other part when saidtwo parts are positioned about said holder, with said cam portion beingnormally free of said lug on said other part so that said two parts canbe moved away from each other for separation of the'holde'r and cage,said camportion on movement of said connecting means operating on saidlug on said other part to draw said two parts together into pressedengagement about said holder, said means including a locking portionengageable with said other part to lock the pair of parts about saidholder. 5. A wire cage for securing'to a holder for a portable lamp,including in combination a pair of separable parts, with said partsconnectedat one end, and each having a projection extendinglaterally-and outwardly therefrom at the other end, a lever ofsubstantially c-shape pivoted at one end on the projection of one ofsaid parts and normally'having its opposite end extending toward butspaced from the projection on said other part so that said parts can bemoved apart from each other, said lever being rotatable in an areoutside the confines of said cage, and having a cam-like surface on itsinner side with a notch thereon near said pivoted end operativelyengageable with the projection on said other part to lock said partsabout said holder, said cam surface on pivotal movement of said lever inone direction operating on the projection on said other part to drawsaid parts together to tighten said parts about said holder, said partsbeing rigidly retained about said holder on engagement of said notchwith the said projection on said other part.

6. A wire cage lamp guard including longitudinal wires, wire meansextending circumfer- .entially and secured to the longitudinal wires,

said wire means being separable to permit the insertion of a holderwithin the cage, an outstanding wire portion formed on one wire of eachseparable part, and a link of substantially c-form pivoted at one end onone of the outstanding portions and normally free of said otheroutstanding portion, said link having a camlike surface on its innerside with a notch thereon near said pivoted end engageable with saidother outstanding portion to lock said separable parts together, saidcam surface on pivotal movement of said lever in one direction operatingon said other outstanding portion to draw said parts together intopressing engagement about said holder said engagement being retained bythe locking engagement of said other outstanding portion with saidnotch, with said lever on pivotal movement thereof in an oppositedirection moving said cam surface out of engagement with said otheroutstanding portion to separate said parts for removal of said cage fromsaid holder.

7. A wire cage for securing to a holder for a portable lamp, includingin combination a pair of separable parts connected at one end, aprojection on one part at the other end thereof, a combination partclosing and locking member of substantially C-shape pivotally secured atone end to the second part at the other end of said second part, theother end of said member when said member is in its open positionextending toward said projection but being spaced therefrom, so thatsaid parts can be separated, said combination member having a cam-likesurface on its inner side with a plurality of notches formed thereonnear said pivoted end, said notches being selectively engageable withsaid projection to lock said parts about said holder, said member onmovement to its closing position moving said cam surface into slidableengagement with said projection to draw said p s together into pressingengagement about said holder and-retaining, said parts in the positionto which they are drawn by locking engagement of one of said-notcheswith said projection, said member on pivotal movement to its Openposition moving said cam surface out of engagement with said projection,said parts for removal of said cage from said holder, with each end ofsaid member having an out-turned finger portion thereon for manualengagement in operating said member.

8. A wire cage for securing to a holder for a portable lamp, includingin combination a pair of separable parts, with said parts connected atone end, and each having a projection extending laterally and outwardlytherefrom at the other end, and a lever of substantially C-shape pivotedatone end on the projection of one of said parts, said other endextending toward but being spacedfrom the projection on said other partso'that said parts can be moved away from each other, said lever beingrotatable in an are outside the confines of said cage, and including acam portion movable into slidable engagement with the projection on saidother part when said

